Adjustable table



April 1962 L. R. BOARDMAN 3,030,716

ADJUSTABLE TABLE Filed Dec. 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Z55 TEA? Efimnpmmv,

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United rates Patent 3,030,716 ADJUSTABLE TABLE Lester R. Boardman, Columbus, Ind., assignor to Arvin Industries, Inc, Columbus, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Dec. 2, 1957, Ser. No. 700,118 12 Claims. (Cl. 38-121) This invention relates to adjustable, cross-legged ironing tables. As such tables are commonly manufactured, the rear leg of the table is pivotally attached to the top on a fixed axis, while the upper end of the front leg is adjustable to various positions along the top to control the angle between the legs and the height of the top. This invention relates in particular to means for controlling the position of the upper end of the front leg.

An ironing table incorporating my invention embodies a guide, conveniently in the form of a channel, which extends longitudinally of the top along the lower side thereof. Such guide receives a slide which is pivotally connected to the upper end of the front leg and which possesses a plurality of longitudinally spaced abutments each of which is adapted to engage a retractable adjustment latch mounted on the top. Forwardly from the adjustment latch, the top is provided with a gravityactuated safety latch which, when the table is in operative position with its top horizontal, hangs downwardly into the path of the slide to limit forward movement thereof, thereby limiting collapse of the legs. When the table is up-ended preparatory to collapsing the legs, the gravity-actuated safety latch swings out of the way of the slide to permit the slide to advance into the position it occupies when the legs are fully collapsed. In the preferred arrangement, the guide is provided with upwardly offset ears secured to the lower surface of the top, and such ears are employed to mount the latches.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing the table in erected,

operative position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing the table in the process of being collapsed;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical section on an enlarged scale "showing the condition of the safety latch when the legs are fully collapsed;

FIG. 4 is an underneath plan view of the table in fully collapsed condition;

FIG. 5 is an underneath plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the slide, its guide, and the latches;

FIG. 6 is a fragmental vertical section showing the safety latch in elevation;

FIG. 7 is a transverse vertical section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 3-8 of FIG. 5.

The ironing table shown in the drawing comprises a top 10 and a pair of crossed supporting legs 11 and 12 pivotally interconnected intermediate their lengths by a pivot pin 13. The upper end of the leg 11 is pivotally connected to the top 11 near the rear end thereof through the medium of a bracket 15 and pivot pin 16. Desirably, braces 17 are pivo-tally connected at one end to the legs by means of the pivot pin 13 and pivotally connected to the top 10 near the sides thereof by pivot pins 18 coaxial with the pin 16.

As will be obvious, the height of the top 10, when the table is in erected condition, will depend upon the position of the upper end of the leg 12 along the top. To control the position of such leg, I connect its upper end to a slide 20 which is slidably received in a guide 21 secured to and extending longitudinally of the top ice 10. As shown, the guide 21 is formed of sheet-metal bent into a channel-shaped cross-section, and the free edges of the channel flanges are bent to form lips 22 extending toward each other in coplanar relationship parallel to the channel-web. The slide 20 is likewise formed of sheet-metal and has downbent flanges 23 at its longitudinal edges to stiffen it, the edges of such flanges riding on the lips 22 as will be clear from FIG. 7. To provide a better bearing condition between the slide 20 and its guide, the web of the guide may be formed to provide two downwardly projecting longitudinally extending beads 25 adapted to bear against the upper surface of the slide 20.

At intervals along its length, the web of the guide 21 is slit to provide ears which are offset upwardly and secured as by welding to the lower surface of the top 10. Such cars, which permit the guide 21 to extend across and below transverse reinforcing ribs 26 on the lower surface of the top, include first and second pairs of cars 27 and 28 located near the front end of the guide 21 and a third pair of cars 29 located near the rear end of the guide 21 immediately adjacent one of the transverse top-reinforcing ribs 26.

To effect an operative connection between the leg 12 and the slide 20, the latter is provided with downwardly projecting bosses 39 (FIG. 3), conveniently formed by downwardly struck portions of the slide metal, which snugly receive between them a transverse pin 31 secured as by welding to the upper end of the leg 12. The ends of the pin 31 extend over the lips 22 and are engaged thereby to hold the pin in position between the bosses 30.

In order to limit the extent to which the legs can swing away from the top and also to prevent the slide from moving rearwardly far enough to carry the pin 31 beyond the ends of the lips 22, portions of the latter are bent upwardly at their rear ends (FIG. 5) to form ears 32 which lie inwardly from the slide-flanges 23 in position to be engaged by the pin 31 to limit rearward movement of both the pin and the slide.

The cars 29 through which the guide 21 is secured to the top cooperate with the adjacent transverse rib 26 to provide a mounting for an adjustment latch 34-. Such adjustment latch is conveniently formed of a length of round metal rod bent to provide a latch-nose 35 and a pair of aligned portions 36 lying on opposite sides of said nose and rotatably received between the cars 29 and the adjacent rib 26. One end of the rod forming the latch 34 extends downwardly and forwardly from the axis of the aligned portions 36 and the extreme end is bent inwardly to provide a finger 37 adapted to engage the lower side of the guide 21. The other end 38 of the rod is bent to extend obliquely with relation to the aligned portions 36 to provide an operating handle by which the latch can be rotated about the axis of the aligned portions 36. A leaf spring 39 secured to the upper surface of the guide 21 bears on the latch nose 35 to urge it downwardly through the opening left by the upward offsetting of the cars 29 and into cooperative engagement with the slide 20. Such slide has a plurality of spaced openings 41) any one of which may receive the latch-nose 35.

The latch-nose 35 and the finger 37 are so disposed about the axis of the aligned portions 36 that when the finger is in engagement with the lower surface of the guide 21 the latch-nose will extend downwardly and rearwardly from the aligned portions 36 into the plane of the slide 21 When the table is in erected condition the weight of the top and legs tends to cause the slide 20 to move forwardly in the guide 21. However, as the spring 39 urges the nose 35 downwardly into the path of the slide 20, forward movement of the slide will be limited by its engagement with the nose. Such engagement may be with the front end of the slide, as shown in FIG. 5, or with the rear side of any of the holes 40, as shown in FIG. 8. To lower the table from either of such positions, the handle 38 is moved upwardly to raise the nose 35 out of engagement with the slide, thus permitting the slide to move forwardly. Upon release of the handle, the spring 39 will hold the latch-nose 35 against the upper surface of the slide, and when the next opening 40 comes opposite the nose, the nose will drop into such opening to the extent determined by engagement of the finger 37 with the lower surface of the guide 21. Limitation of forward movement of the slide when the latch is engaged is positive, since forward pressure of the slide on the latch nose tends to rotate the latch in a clockwise direction, and such rotation is positively limited by engagement of the finger 37 with the bottom of the guide 21.

To raise the top, it is only necessary to lift it. The weight of the legs tends to cause them to swing downwardly, thus urging the slide 20 rearwardly of the top. The latch 34 does not interfere with rearward movement of the slide under such urging, as yielding of the spring 39 permits the latch-nose to ratchet over the metal between the openings 40.

At or somewhat beyond the position occupied by the forward edge of the slide 20 when the table is in the lowest position of adjustment provided by the latch 34, I mount a safety latch which is gravity-actuated to limit forward movement of the slide 20 when the table is in its erected condition. Such safety latch conveniently embodies a length of round metal rod bent to provide a nose 41 and, on opposite sides of such nose, a pair of aligned portions 42 located but loosely received between the ears 27 and 28. When the table is in operative position with its top extending horizontally, the weight of the nose 41 causes the safety latch to swing into a position such that the nose will extend downwardly across the guide 21 in a position to be engaged by the forward edge of the slide 20. To prevent the nose 41 from being forced aside by pressure exerted on it by the slide 20, one end of the rod from which the safety latch is formed is bent to provide a finger 43 which engages the lower surface of the guide 21. The opposite end 44 of the rod may be bent into the plane of the nose 41 to provide increased weight tending to swing such nose into the path of the slide when the table is in erected condition.

When it is desired to collapse the table, it is rotated about the foot of the rear leg 12 until the rear end of the top 10 engages the floor, as shown in FIG. 2. In this position of the top, the force of gravity causes the nose 41 of the safety latch to swing against the top, into the position shown in FIG. 3, where it will be out of the path of movement of the slide 20. By moving the handle 38 toward the top 10 to retract the latch-nose and swinging the outer end of the leg 11 upwardly, the legs can then be brought against the lower face of the top without interference from the safety latch. With the legs collapsed against the top, the table may be readily stored in a vertical position resting on the foot of leg 12.

The table is most conveniently erected by positioning it as shown in FIG. 2 and swinging the legs 11 and 12 outwardly while the rear end of the board is supported on the floor. When, in the outward swinging of the legs, the slide 2% has moved into association with the adjustment latch, the top is swung forwardly until the foot of leg 12 engages the floor, and forward swinging is continued to rotate the table about the foot of the leg 12 until the leg 11 engages the floor to bring the table into the position shown in FIG. 1. As the table swings around the foot of leg 12 in this operation, the forces existing tend to move the slide 20 upwardly or toward the front end of the top 10; and as engagement of one or another of the openings wtih the latch-nose prevents such movement, the top and legs rotate as a unit.

Once the board is brought into the position shown in FIG. 1, its elevation can be changed within the limits of slide movement determined by the safety latch and the ears 29. To lower the board, it is only necessary to force the handle 38 of the adjustment latch upwardly toward the top 10 to retract the nose 35 from engagement with the slide. When the board has been lowered to the desired elevation, the handle 38 is released, whereupon the spring 39 will force the nose of latch 32 into the next hole 4 0 in the slide to retain the board in its new elevation. To raise the top, it is only necessary to lift it, as previously set forth. When the lifting effort is relieved, the nose 35 of the adjustment latch drops into one of the holes 40 to prevent descent of the top. The handle 38 of the adjustment latch desirably extends to a position closely adjacent the edge of the top so that it can be raised by one finger of the hand which grasps the board.

The safety latch is designed to prevent uncontrolled descent of the top into the position where the legs would be completely collapsed against its lower surface. The top is thus prevented from dropping on the foot of the user.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an ironing table having a top, a first leg pivoted to said top on a transverse axis, a second leg crossing and pivotally interconnected to said first leg, and adjustable means for connecting the upper end of the second leg to said top, said means comprising a channel guide extending longitudinally along the underside of the top in spaced relation thereto, a slide slidably carried in said guide and pivotally connected to the upper end of said second leg, said slide having a wall surface parallel to the plane of the top and having a series of longitudinally spaced openings formed therein, means slidably supporting said slide throughout its length along said guide, and a latch mounted in fixed position on said guide between said top and guide and pivotally movable through the plane of the guide for selective reception in said slide openings to extend through the plane of the slide for releasably locking said slide in the desired position of adjustment.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 with the addition that said latch is pivotally mounted on said guide on a transverse axis and has a slide-engaging nose extending obliquely from such axis generally toward the pivotal axis of said first leg, a spring mounted on said guide urging said nose toward said slide for reception in said slide openings, and means for limiting movement of said latch nose toward said slide under the urging of said spring.

3. The invention set forth in claim 1 with the addition that said latch is pivotally mounted on said guide on a transverse axis and has a slide-engaging nose extending obliquely from such axis generally toward the pivotal axis of said first leg, and a spring urging said nose toward said slide.

4. The invention set forth in claim 1 with the addition that said latch is pivotally mounted on said guide on a transverse axis and has a slide-engaging nose extending obliquely from such axis generally toward the pivotal axis of said first leg, a spring urging said nose toward said slide for locking reception in said slide openings, said latch having an operating handle extending to a point adjacent an edge of the top, and means on said latch engageable with said guide for limiting the locking movement of said nose.

5. In an ironing table having a top, a first leg pivoted to said top on a transverse axis, a second leg crossing and pivotally interconnected to said first leg, and adjustable means for connecting the upper end of the second leg to said top, said means comprising a channeled guide extending longitudinally along the underside of the top in spaced relation thereto and having a web parallel to said top and interconnecting a pair of downwardly projecting flanges, a channeled slide connected to the upper end of said second leg and slidably carried in said guide, said slide having a pair of downwardly projecting legs interconnected at their upper ends by a web parallel to the plane of the top and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings formed therein, said slide legs being in sliding bearing contact with said guide legs, means for maintaining said bearing contact between said slide and guide legs, and a latch pivotally mounted on said guide between the lower face of the top and the guide Web and movable through an opening formed in the guide web to extend downwardly through the slide openings for releasably locking said slide in selected positions of adjustment along the guide.

6. The invention of claim 5 with the addition of a pin secured to the upper end of said leg and extending transversely thereof, said slide having a pair of bosses between which said pin is received, said guide having longitudinally extending lips engaging said pin to retain it in position between said bosses.

7. The invention of claim 5 with the addition that said latch has an operating handle extending from one side of the latch into a position adjacent one edge of the top, and a curved finger projecting outwardly from the opposite side of said latch to engage said guide for limiting the pivotal movement of said latch in the slide openings.

8. The invention of claim 5 with the addition that said guide is formed as a sheet-metal channel with portions of its web being cut and ofiisetupwardly to provide ears secured to said top for mounting said adjusting means on the top.

9. The invention of claim 1 with the addition that said guide is formed as a sheet-metal channel with portions of its web being cut and offset upwardly to provide ears secured to said top for mounting said adjusting means on the top.

10. In an ironing table having a top, a first leg pivoted to said top on a transverse axis, a second leg crossing and pivotally interconnected to said first leg, means guiding the upper end of said second leg for movement longitudinally of said top, said means including an elongated guide secured to the underside of said top in spaced relation thereto and a part which is secured to the upper end of the second leg and slidable in said guide, and a safety latch for limiting movement of said pant along the guide to prevent said legs from collapsing when the table is in an extended operative position, said latch being formed of a length of [round metal rod bent to provide a nose and coaxial portions on opposite sides of said nose projecting outwardly beyond said guide and jounnaled in means on said guide for pivotally mounting said latch thereon between said guide and the top and permitting the latch nose to swing under the influence of gravity through the plane of said guide into an operative position extending across said guide into the path of the slide movement when the top is horizontal and out of said'operative position when said top is vertical.

11. The invention of claim 10 with the addition that said rod has a curved end portion engageable with said guide to limit swinging of said latch in one direction from its operative position.

12. In an ironing table having a top, a first leg pivoted to said top on a transverse axis, a second leg crossing and pivotally interconnected to said first leg, means guiding the upper end of said second leg for movement longitudinally of said top, said means including an elongated guide formed of sheet-metal as an inverted downwardly open channel having a web parallel to said top, portions of said web being cut and oflset upwardly to form openings in said web and provide ears secured to said top and spacing the guide thehrefrom, a member secured to the upper end of said second leg and slidably received in said guide, a gravity actuated safety latch for limiting movement of said member along said guide, said latch being pivotally carried toward one end of said guide between said guide and the top and retained on said guide by a pair of said eats and having a nose projecting generally downwardly through the opening left by the upward oifsetting of said pair of cars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 260,210 King June 27, 1882 1,121,744 McLaughlin Dec. 2 2, 1914 2,659,990 Voigt et a1 Nov. 24, 1953 2,661,554 Siczkiewicz et al Dec. 8, 1953 2,746,184 Davis May 22, 1956 2,760,286 Voigt et a1. Aug. 28, 1956 2,767,493 Wagner Oct. 23, 1956 2,833,063 Drummond May 6, 1958 2,896,347 Hontman July 28, 1959 2,912,775 Gettelman Nov. 17, 1959 2,974,431 Ribaudo Mar. 14, 1961 

